It's a Tough Job...

I *think* I know what the season will be. At least, I *think* I know what I will present to the Board next week for their reading pleasure. I had to make some changes from what was submitted to balance the season, because I believe you have to look at the season as a whole, not just the individual shows. If every show is dark it may influence how people react to the theatre. I think there has to be something for everyone. And with Walterdale that *everyone* includes the membership as well as the audience. I have to talk to a few people about some things and since one of my choices is a translation, I have to decide if I have found the right translation (I may have to present the translation I have with the caveat that I am looking for a different one - it is proving challenging to find exactly what I want - I thought I was ordering what I wanted...). Anyhow, for those who want to know time lines:

a. Present the season to the Board with copies for them to read - Sunday, Feb 7th, 2010
b. Meet with Board to discuss and approve the season as presented OR go with back-up choices (yes, I have to have back-ups) - First week of March, 2010 - exact date TBA
c. Secure rights and announce season informally - end of March, 2010 - it usually takes 1-3 weeks to secure rights.
d. Launch the new season - Probably in April, but might be in May depending on print media.

So, stay tuned!

Work in Progress...

I had the opportunity/good luck to watch a rehearsal of Beautiful Thing last night. It's looking great! It was the first night where the techs and the actors were working with the set and for a first time, things went pretty smoothly. It bodes well for Q2Q that they are this ahead of the game. The set is quite amazing and I cannot wait to see it when it is complete. This 'simple' little show requires more running crew than actors. I can't believe they are in the shape they are will still a week and a half to go before an audience - awesome!

In Case You are Interested...

Justen Bennett (Director) and Joel Taras (Actor - Ste) will be on CJSR at 6:00p tonight, talking about Beautiful Thing! You can listen at http://www.cjsr.ualberta.ca

Media Photos

Douglas (Dollars) Stewart came in and took some wonderful media photos for Beautiful Thing. Here's one of my favorites. The rest can be seen at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=150794&id=192621036890&l=f87d12d3a0

Douglas Stewart has been doing our media call photos for a few years now. He's a great asset to Walterdale and does his best to serve the needs of each production. He also really appreciates the work of all our designers and will often take photos of just the set or detail photos of the costumes. His pictures are fabulous! Glad to have him around!

Less Than a Month Until the Next Show Hits the Boards...

The building is busy. Lets remember that. It's not just the physical building, though, it is the human building too. In the Physical Building we had Beautiful Thing in rehearsal and undergoing a massive build on deck. In less than a month we will see the show up on the boards (by the by - I advise getting your tickets sooner rather than later because it is the 6-pack show and that those tend to sell very well, frequently selling out on the weekends).

The human building that is Walterdale has many other things on the go. The Mail Order Bride (directed by Alex Hawkins) is in rehearsal in other spaces preparing to move in in just over a month. Auditions for From Cradle to Stage are being booked (we need more men to sign up - email me ADWalterdale2009@yahoo.ca) as they are in mid February. The Directors for those shows (Taylor Chadwick and Anne Marie Szucs) are anxiously awaiting the final drafts of their scripts. The Playwrights (Jim Herchak and Andy Garland) are tweaking and re-writing and discussing their changes with the Dramaturges (Tracy Carroll and Brian Dooley). Other Walterdale members are preparing for the ADFA One Act Festival, Stage Struck! that goes up in the building at the end of February. Still more members, fueled by the readings at the Donor Voted Show Event, are brainstorming ideas for informal readings of classic works (Check out One Green Leaf Theatre on Facebook). So much going on in the building and out!

AND THE DONOR VOTED SHOW IS.....

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

by William Shakespeare

It was a wonderful night of visiting, reading, door prizes and voting and the result was Shakespeare's comedy joining the 2010-2011 season at Walterdale. Many thanks to everyone who came out to share in this evening and help us to select this show. It was great to walk around and hear that all three of the selections were 'favorites' of different people. I also felt the readers acquitted themselves wonderfully causing people to change their minds (I know one person changed from Much Ado to Hedda Gabler, and another changed from The Seagull to Much Ado - anything could happen!). Still others were not swayed as they came to push for their favorite! Congratulations to our door prize winners: Murray Cullen, Andrew Mecready, Marj Thomson, and Emilie Poindessault!

Special thanks to the following for contributing to make this evening special for all who attended: Willie Banfield, Elena Porter, Murray Cullen, Mary Ellen Perley, Catherine Wenschlag, Nelson Niwa, Becky Ponting, Kimberlee Stadelmann, Kent Sutherland, Dave Wolkowski, Annelise Coutu, Eric Rice, Brent Jans, Ruby Swekla, Justen Bennett, Lance Dittrich, and Tim Marriott. My apologies if I have forgotten anyone - all efforts were appreciated!

You're Invited!

To the Donor Voted Show Event!

January 16th, 2010

I am so excited to invite all the members of Walterdale Theatre Associates to come out and hear readings from the 3 works up for selection for next season. This has been an exciting project, encouraging more of our community to donate as well as giving you the opportunity to help in designing the season next year. Even if you did not donate, please come out and cheer on your favourite play. Join us for drinks and eats and laughter and conversation.

Readings of the three plays (Much Ado About Nothing, The Seagull and Hedda Gabler) will be performed by Walterdale favourites, new and old: Willie Banfield, Murray Cullen, Elena Porter, Mary Ellen Perley, Nelson Niwa, Becky Ponting, and Catherine Wenschlag.

The Outline for the evening is as follows:
Saturday, January 16th, 2010
6:00 - 7:00 p.m. - By Invitation Only - Donors Wine and Cheese Reception
7:00 - 7:30 p.m. - Doors open to everyone
7:30 - 8:30 p.m. (approximate) - Readings from the 3 plays followed by voting, and mingling.
9:30 p.m. - Announcement of results of the vote (if the voting is completed earlier the announcement will be made earlier)

I hope to see many of you there to discuss this show and the shape of the season next year for Walterdale!

Kristen M. Finlay
Artistic Director 2009-2011
Walterdale Theatre Associates

Auditions - From Cradle to Stage

The audition notice for From Cradle to Stage is posted on the Walterdale Website. You can email me at ADWalterdale2009@yahoo.ca for an appointment. The structure is cold reads from the scripts so nothing has to be prepared in advance. As these are new works the scripts are not available, either, but a description of each of the plays is in the audition notice. There are several roles for many different ages and types.

The season submission deadline has passed. I was worried about not getting enough to choose from, but on the last day I had several entries come my way. Now I have too many great plays to choose from. I have to make the season balanced though, so that will affect which ones I choose to put together. I cannot make any decisions until after the Donor Voted Show is selected on January 16th, so I have a bit of time to read and think about how I put everything together. I would rather have more choices than fewer though, so that is a good thing. The hard part is knowing that some great people will be turned down. Hopefully I can find them a role somewhere else in the season.

A New Year - 2010

Tomorrow things start up for the Board of Director's with the first Board Meeting of 2010. We have a few things to get planned. The shape of the Board itself is changing due to some recent resignations. I will not say more than that until the new shape is finalized as there will be discussion and voting to make it all official. We also have The Donor Voted Show Gala coming up on January 16th. I have some work to do for that in terms of organizing the readings and planning the shape of the evening as a whole. Others will be looking after distributing ballots and invitations, tech support, food and drinks and set-up and clean-up.

I anxiously await reading the pile of scripts that I hope are waiting for me at the theatre. The deadline for submissions for next season is January 5th so I am hoping that several were sent out this past week. I have some in reserve form last year's submissions, but I really want a nice big selection!

Audition notices for From Cradle to Stage will be coming out this week. Stay tuned for the official information - available here and on Facebook and Theatre Alberta and on Walterdale's website.

One thing I do want to put out there is that if you want to get involved, however small, then contact me or someone on the board. We will get you in touch with the current show or the show you are interested in. A lot of people audition saying they want to work on a show at Walterdale but then when we call they seemed to have changed their minds. It makes me think that people don't really want to work at Walterdale, they only want to be onstage. There is a lot more required for a show and those other roles can be rewarding if you try them! So email me - adwalterdale2009@yahoo.ca and I will get you on a team!